I am a first time boat owner and this is my first attempt at winterizing my
boat and outboard. I own a 1981 Grady White 21' Overnighter on a trailer
with a mounted 175 HP Evinrude outboard. I know I have to put a stabilizier
in the gas so it doesn't go bad, but what procedures should I take with the
engine/lower unit etc. I heard somewhere you should run the engine with a
real oil heavy gas mix to coat everything before winter sets in, which is
soon. What is the mix to be used and what is the procedure, I have a 60
gallon tank in the boat. Should I disconnect the batteries and pull from
the boat. Do you need to remove the fuel/water seperator filter? Is there
something you should do to the water pump/lower drive unit? I know I need
to cover the boat with shrink warap or a tarp, is there anything else I
should do? Coat electrical connections with grease? Should I take the
load off the trailer tires with wood blocks? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks so much fellow educated boaters! Russ Hermansen

First, visit this site for some great guidelines:
http://www.brownsmarina.com/tech-winter-outboard.html

There are frequent discussions here about gasoline stabilizers. I don't use
one, and each spring, my outboard starts in one pull. If you are confused by
the 1001 opinions on the subject, use the stabilizer. For $3.50, you'll feel
more at peace.

Electrical connections should ALWAYS be coated with dielectric grease, not
just in winter. Auto supply stores carry it.

When I stored my boat outside, I was "iffy" about having the lower half of
the motor buried in snow, so I removed the motor and built a stand to keep
it in the garage. I have no idea why, except for a sneaking suspicion that
although it was made to sit in water, it was NOT made to be repeatedly
chilled to 5 degrees and then thawed out, with moisture in the seams.

-Doug

"Russell Hermansen" wrote in message
. net...
I am a first time boat owner and this is my first attempt at winterizing
my
boat and outboard. I own a 1981 Grady White 21' Overnighter on a trailer
with a mounted 175 HP Evinrude outboard. I know I have to put a
stabilizier
in the gas so it doesn't go bad, but what procedures should I take with
the
engine/lower unit etc. I heard somewhere you should run the engine with a
real oil heavy gas mix to coat everything before winter sets in, which is
soon. What is the mix to be used and what is the procedure, I have a 60
gallon tank in the boat. Should I disconnect the batteries and pull from
the boat. Do you need to remove the fuel/water seperator filter? Is there
something you should do to the water pump/lower drive unit? I know I need
to cover the boat with shrink warap or a tarp, is there anything else I
should do? Coat electrical connections with grease? Should I take the
load off the trailer tires with wood blocks? Any help would be
appreciated.
Thanks so much fellow educated boaters! Russ Hermansen